The annual publication Crime in England and Wales 2007-08 includes results from the British Crime Survey (BCS) and crimes recorded by the police for the 12 months up to March 2008.
The figures show that:
- overall recorded crime fell by 11 per cent in the North East between 2006-07 and 2007-08
- crime fell in all of the police force areas in the region (15 per cent in Northumbria, 10 per cent in Durham and by 3 per cent in Cleveland)
- recorded offences of violence against the person fell by 15 per cent in the North East between 2006-07 and 2007-08
- the total recorded crime rate in the North East (at 88 offences per 1,000 population) was below the average for England and Wales (at 91 per 1,000)
- the North East has seen substantial reductions in police recorded acquisitive crime between 2006-07 and 2007-08 with burglary down by 13 per cent, robbery down by 21 per cent and vehicle crime down by 17 per cent.
Welcoming the figures, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith praised the work of local front line agencies involved in the fight against crime.
The Home Secretary said "The fall in crime across the North East shows the difference that can be made when we work together to tackle crime and is a testament to the effort and commitment shown by police and crime reduction partners around the region.
"I now want to go further and build on this success to ensure that people feel safer and are confident we are tackling the crimes which concern them most.
"I am determined to deliver more reductions in all types of crime and particularly violence involving knives and guns. Whilst the BCS shows violence falling by 40 per cent since 1997, with a 12 per cent fall in the last year alone, we also know that knives are still being used in the most serious violent incidents.
"The Youth Crime Action Plan published this week is just one part of a comprehensive package of tough enforcement and intensive prevention measures we have put in place to tackle violent crime wherever it occurs."
Nationally both the BCS and police recorded crime show crime has fallen along with the risk of being a victim of crime. The BCS shows crime has fallen by ten per cent (with a 12 per cent fall in violent crime) and police recorded crime shows a nine per cent fall compared to 2006-07.
The BCS shows the risk of becoming a victim of crime has fallen from 24 to 22 per cent. Both overall crime and the risk of victimisation are now at their lowest levels since the first BCS results in 1981.
Partnerships across the North East have been proactive in their support to victims of violence in order to increase reporting and tackle violence at its core. For example, through the six Accredited Specialist Domestic Violence Courts in the region, victims of domestic violence can feel more secure in reporting crime. Their cases are dealt with within days, in a supported and secure environment with specially trained custody officers, lawyers and a specialist bench.
